Clothes hanger

ABSTRACT

A clothes hanger includes a hanger body for suspending clothes, a hook extending upwardly from the hanger body and having a latch-side end which is spaced apart from the hanger body to define an access opening, a latch movably disposed on the latch-side end and having a latch end movable between retracted and extended positions, and a closing lever pivotally mounted on the hanger body and having a catch end which is turnable between a closed position, where the catch end is engaged with and is retained by the latch end so as to close the access opening, and one of first and second open positions, where the catch end is angularly displaced from the latch end to open the access opening.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

This invention relates to a clothes hanger, more particularly to aclothes hanger which has a closing lever that is turnable to open orclose an access opening of a hook.

2. Description of the Related Art

Referring to FIG. 1, a conventional clothes hanger 1 is shown to includea hanger body 11 for suspending clothes, and a hook 12 for hanging on aclothes rod 2. The hook 12 has a crook portion 121 and a closing portion122 cooperatively defining an accommodation space 120. The closingportion 122 can be operated to open the accommodation space 120 forreceiving the clothes rod 2, and can be engaged with the crook portion122 to close the accommodation space 120 for preventing undesiredremoval of the hanger 1 from the clothes rod 2. However, theaccommodation space 120 defined by the crook and closing portions121,122 has a relatively small access opening when the accommodationspace 120 is opened, which makes hanging of the hook 12 on the clothesrod 2 inconvenient. In addition, the user has to grip and press theclosing portion 122 to open or close the accommodation space 120, sothat the hanger 1 must be hung in a place within the user's reach.Hence, the hanger 1 can be used only in a limited area.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The object of the present invention is to provide a clothes hanger whichhas a latch unit that can be operated conveniently to turn a closinglever to close or open an access opening of a hook so as to permithanging of the hook on a clothes rod and removal of the hook from theclothes rod in a convenient manner, and so as to permit hanging of thehanger on a clothes rod installed at a relatively high position.

According to this invention, the clothes hanger includes a hanger bodywhich is configured to suspend clothes and which has a top mount thathas a seat surface confronting upwardly, and a hook which has a lowerend mounted on the seat surface, a shank segment extending upwardly fromthe lower end, and a crook segment that extends forwardly and downwardlyfrom the shank segment to terminate at a latch-side end. The latch-sideend is spaced apart from the shank segment to define an accommodationspace, and is spaced apart from the seat surface to define an accessopening to the accommodation space. A latch is disposed on thelatch-side end, and has a latch end that has a latch surface confrontingthe shank segment, and that is movable between a retracted position,where the latch end is remote from the seat surface, and an extendedposition, where the latch end is closer to the seat surface. A closinglever has a pivoted end which is disposed forwardly of the shank segmentand which is pivotably mounted on the seat surface about a pivot axis,and a catch end which is opposite to the pivoted end and which isturnable about the pivot axis among a closed position, where the catchend is engaged with and is guarded against movement out of the latchsurface of the latch end in the extended position to close the accessopening, a first open position, where the catch end is angularlydisplaced from the latch end in a clockwise direction, and a second openposition, where the catch end is angularly displaced from the latch endin a counterclockwise direction.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Other features and advantages of the present invention will becomeapparent in the following detailed description of the preferredembodiment of the invention, with reference to the accompanyingdrawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a conventional clothes hanger;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary perspective view of the preferred embodiment ofa clothes hanger according to this invention when closed;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary exploded perspective view of the preferredembodiment;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary perspective view of the preferred embodimentwhen a catch end is in a closed position;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary sectional view taken along lines V-V of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary sectional view taken along lines VI-VI of FIG.4;

FIG. 7 is a partly sectioned side view illustrating the catch end of thepreferred embodiment in a first open position;

FIG. 8 is a partly sectional side view illustrating the catch end of thepreferred embodiment in a second open position;

FIG. 9 is a partly sectional side view illustrating how the catch end ofthe preferred embodiment is turned from the first open position to thesecond open position;

FIG. 10 is a partly sectional side view illustrating how a latch of thepreferred embodiment is operated using a Y-shaped rod;

FIG. 11 is a perspective view illustrating the preferred embodiment whenused as a suit hanger; and

FIG. 12 is a perspective view illustrating the preferred embodiment whenused as a hanging dryer.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring to FIGS. 2 to 6, the preferred embodiment of a clothes hangeraccording to the present invention is shown to comprise a hanger body 6,a hook 3, a latch unit 5, and a closing unit 4.

The hanger body 6 is configured to suspend clothes, and has a top mount61 that has a seat surface 62 confronting upwardly. A pair of lugs 64are disposed on the seat surface 62. A spacer 63 is disposed forwardlyof the lugs 64, and extends uprightly from the seat surface 62.

The hook 3 has a lower end 31 mounted on the seat surface 62, a shanksegment 35 extending upwardly from the lower end 31, and a crook segment32 that extends forwardly and downwardly from the shank segment 35 toterminate at a latch-side end 36 which is spaced apart from the shanksegment 35 to define an accommodation space 320, and which is spacedapart from the seat surface 62 to define an access opening 321communicated with the accommodation space 320. In this embodiment, thecrook segment 32 and the latch-side end 36 are separately formed. Thelatch-side end 36 has a surrounding wall 361 which defines a tubularchamber 360. The tubular chamber 360 is configured to extend upwardly toterminate at a ceiling surface 324 which is integrally formed with thecrook segment 32. A rear wall 321 extends downwardly from and isintegrally formed with the ceiling surface 324. A mortise-and-tenonmechanism is disposed between the crook segment 32 and the latch-sideend 36. Specifically, the mortise-and-tenon mechanism includes a pair offirst mortises 322 formed in two opposite sides of the ceiling surface324, a pair of first tenons 364 formed on the surrounding wall 361 andfitted respectively to the first mortises 322 so as to prevent uprightmovement of the surrounding wall 361 relative to the ceiling surface324, a pair of second mortises 323 formed in two sides of the rear wall321, and a pair of second tenons 365 formed on the surrounding wall 361and fitted respectively to the second mortises 323 so as to preventforward and rearward movement of the surrounding wall 361 relative tothe ceiling surface 324. Thus, the surrounding wall 361 can be easilycoupled with and can be retained firmly relative to the crook segment32. Moreover, the surrounding wall 361 has a guiding slot 363 extendingtherethrough to be communicated with the tubular chamber 360, and athrough bore 362 extending therethrough along a lengthwise axis (X) thatextends uprightly.

The latch unit 5 is received in the tubular chamber 360, and includes alatch 52, a keystem 54, and a first biasing member 53. The latch 52extends along the lengthwise axis (X) to terminate at a latch end 521.With reference to FIG. 7, the latch end 521 has a latch surface 520confronting the shank segment 35, and a follower surface 523 confrontingforwardly. The keystem 54 has an actuating end 541 which is received inthe tubular chamber 360 and which is connected to the latch 52, and astem body 542 which extends from the actuating end 541 outwardly throughthe guiding slot 363 to terminate at an operated end 543 to permitmanual operation. Thus, the operated end 543 is operable manually tomove the latch end 521 along the lengthwise axis (X) between an extendedposition, as shown in FIG. 7, where the latch end 521 extends downwardlyof the tubular chamber 360 through the through bore 362 to be close tothe seat surface 62, and a retracted position, as shown in FIG. 8, wherethe latch end 521 is retracted into the tubular chamber 360 to be remotefrom the seat surface 62. The first biasing member 53 is disposedbetween the ceiling surface 324 and the latch 52 to urge the latch end521 to move along the lengthwise axis (X) and towards the extendedposition.

The closing unit 4 includes a closing lever 41 and a second biasingmember 43. The closing lever 41 has a pivoted end 413 which is pivotablymounted on the lugs 64 by means of a pin 42 extending along a pivotaxis, and a catch end 411 which is opposite to the pivoted end 413 andwhich is turnable about the pivot axis among a closed position, asindicated by solid lines in FIG. 7, where the catch end 411 is engagedwith and is guarded against movement out of the latch surface 520 of thelatch end 521 in the extended position so as to close the access opening321, a first open position, as indicated by dotted lines in FIG. 7,where the catch end 411 is angularly displaced from the latch end 521 ina clockwise direction, and a second open position, as shown in FIG. 8,where the catch end 411 is angularly displaced from the latch end 521 ina counterclockwise direction. The second biasing member 43 is a torsionspring which is disposed between the pivoted end 413 and the seatsurface 62 to bias the catch end 411 towards the second open position.The catch end 411 has retained and cam surfaces 412,414 confrontingforwardly and rearwardly, respectively.

Referring to FIGS. 4 and 7, when the latch end 521 is extended to theextended position by virtue of the biasing action of the first biasingmember 53 and when the latch surface 520 is engaged with the retainedsurface 412 of the catch end 411 so as to retain the catch end 411 atthe closed position to close the access opening 321, the user can pressthe closing lever 41 against a clothes rod 7 (see FIG. 7). A thrustingforce is applied to the closing lever 41 to turn the catch end 411 inthe clockwise direction to the first open position so as to permit entryof the clothes rod 7 into the accommodation space 320. Once thethrusting force is removed, the catch end 411 is turned back to theclosed position by the biasing action of the second biasing member 43.Thus, the clothes hanger of this embodiment can be securely attached tothe clothes rod 7.

Referring to FIGS. 4 and 8, when it is desired to remove the clotheshanger from the clothes rod 7, the user can move the operated end 543upwardly to move the latch end 521 to the retracted position so as topermit disengagement of the catch end 411 from the latch end 521. Thus,the catch end 411 can be turned to the second open position by thebiasing action of the second biasing member 43 to abut against thespacer 63.

Referring to FIGS. 9 and 10, when the catch end 411 is in the secondopen position and it is desired to hang the clothes hanger on theclothes rod 7, the user can easily press the closing lever 41 againstthe clothes rod 7 since the catch end 411 is spaced apart from the seatsurface 62 by the spacer 63. The catch end 411 is thus moved angularlyby a thrusting force in the clockwise direction against the secondbiasing member 43. Subsequently, due to the mating between the cam andfollower surfaces 414,523, the latch end 521 is forced to move to theretracted position so as to permit the catch end 411 to sweep over thelatch end 521 to continue to move angularly towards the first openposition for permitting entry of the clothes rod 7 into theaccommodation space 320. Thus, if the user wants to hang clothes on aclothes rod 7 that is installed at a relatively high position using theclothe hanger of this invention, the user can first operate the keystem54 manually to move the catch end 411 to the second open position, andthen utilize a Y-shaped rod 8 to lift the hanger body 6 to enable thehook 3 to engage the clothes rod 7. Moreover, as shown in FIG. 10, whenthe clothes hanger is retained on a clothes rod 7 that is installed at arelatively high position, the user can utilize the Y-shaped rod 8 topush the keystem 54 upwardly to retract the latch end 521 so that thecatch end 411 is turned to the second open position by the biasingaction of the second biasing member 43. The user can then take down theclothes hanger with the help of the Y-shaped rod 8, which is quiteconvenient.

The clothes hanger according to this invention may also serve as a suithanger as shown in FIG. 11, or a hanging dryer as shown in FIG. 12.

As illustrated, the access opening 321 can have a relatively largedimension for facilitating passage of the clothes rod 7. Moreover, sincethe operated end 543 extends forwardly of the latch-side end 36,operation of the operated end 543 by the user or with the use of theclothes rod 7 is facilitated. In addition, by virtue of theconfiguration of the latch end 411 which is movable among the first openposition, the closed position, and the second open position, the clotheshanger of this invention can be conveniently hung on a clothes rod at arelatively high position or removed therefrom. Furthermore, a pluralityof the clothes hangers according to this invention can be hung on aclothes rod in a row, and any of the clothes hangers can be removed fromthe clothes rod without interfering with adjacent hangers or the clotheshung on the hangers.

While the present invention has been described in connection with whatis considered the most practical and preferred embodiment, it isunderstood that this invention is not limited to the disclosedembodiment but is intended to cover various arrangements included withinthe spirit and scope of the broadest interpretations and equivalentarrangements.

1. A clothes hanger comprising: a hanger body which is configured tosuspend clothes, and which has a top mount that has a seat surfaceconfronting upwardly; a hook which has a lower end mounted on said seatsurface, a shank segment extending upwardly from said lower end, and acrook segment that extends forwardly and downwardly from said shanksegment to terminate at a latch-side end which is spaced apart from saidshank segment to define an accommodation space, and which is spacedapart from said seat surface to define an access opening to saidaccommodation space; a latch which is disposed on said latch-side end,and which has a latch end that has a latch surface confronting saidshank segment, and that is movable between a retracted position, wheresaid latch end is remote from said seat surface, and an extendedposition, where said latch end is closer to said seat surface; and aclosing lever having a pivoted end which is disposed forwardly of saidshank segment and which is pivotably mounted on said seat surface abouta pivot axis, and a catch end which is opposite to said pivoted end andwhich is turnable about the pivot axis among a closed position, wheresaid catch end is engaged with and is guarded against movement out ofsaid latch surface of said latch end in the extended position to closesaid access opening, a first open position, where said catch end isangularly displaced from said latch end in a clockwise direction, and asecond open position, where said catch end is angularly displaced fromsaid latch end in a counterclockwise direction.
 2. The clothes hangeraccording to claim 1, wherein said latch extends along an uprightlyextending lengthwise axis to terminate at said latch end, said clotheshanger further comprising a first biasing member which is disposed tourge said latch end to move along the lengthwise axis and towards theextended position.
 3. The clothes hanger according to claim 2, whereinsaid latch-side end has a surrounding wall which defines a tubularchamber to receive said latch and said first biasing member such thatsaid latch end is movable between the retracted and extended positionsalong the lengthwise axis.
 4. The clothes hanger according to claim 3,wherein said surrounding wall has a guiding slot which extendstherethrough to be communicated with said tubular chamber, said clotheshanger further comprising a keystem which has an actuating end that isreceived in said tubular chamber, and that is configured to move saidlatch end between the extended and retracted positions, and a stem bodywhich extends from said actuating end outwardly through said guidingslot to terminate at an operated end for facilitating manual operation.5. The clothes hanger according to claim 3, wherein said tubular chamberis configured to extend upwardly to terminate at a ceiling surface whichis integrally formed with said crook segment.
 6. The clothes hangeraccording to claim 5, wherein said crook segment and said latch-side endare separately formed, said clothes hanger further comprising amortise-and-tenon mechanism disposed between said crook segment and saidlatch-side end to prevent movement of said latch-side end relative tosaid crook segment.
 7. The clothes hanger according to claim 1, furthercomprising a second biasing member which is disposed between saidpivoted end and said seat surface, and which biases said catch endtowards the second open position.
 8. The clothes hanger according toclaim 7, wherein said catch and latch ends respectively have cam andfollower surfaces mating with each other such that, when said catch endis angularly moved by a thrusting force in the clockwise directionagainst said second biasing member, said latch end is forced to move tothe retracted position so as to permit said catch end to sweep over saidlatch end to continue to move angularly towards the first open position.9. The clothes hanger according to claim 8, further comprising a spacerwhich extends uprightly from said seat surface and which is disposedforwardly of said pivoted end such that, when said catch end is turnedto the second open position, said catch end abuts against said spacerand is spaced apart from said seat surface.